How EDS Kids are Leading to Breakthroughs for us All

Dear Friends,

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a heritable connective tissue disorder that affects approximately 1 in 5,000 people. Joint hypermobility is the ‘hallmark of the condition and a key part of the diagnostic criteria, but EDS can affect any of 10 different body systems, in 10 different ways.

At school, EDS can have a host of impacts on kids’ educational and social experiences, from brain fog to unexplained and widespread hypersensitivities to chronic GI issues to chronic, widespread pain and fatigue.

Some 30% of EDS kids will end up in medical homebound instruction over the course of their K-12 education.

We refuse to accept that statistic.

The whole journey to building Cajal Academy didn’t start with trying to reduce or remove learning disabilities (although we think that’s a pretty cool thing to be able to do!), it started from the fact that my kids and I have EDS. That’s what led us to look in different places to find leverage than where other educators were focused: we looked at the intersections between the systems, because that’s what EDS is all about.

This program saved my son’s life, and took him from medical crisis to knocking it out of the park at the college of his dreams.

For all these reasons, we are extremely proud to offer the world’s first K-12 school designed for kids with EDS, with specialized instruction in how to monitor, manage and advocate for symptoms that can hit 10 different body systems, in 10 different ways, and no 2 days are alike.

If you’re raising a kiddo with EDS, join me at an upcoming EDS Information Session to find our more about the ways EDS impacts education, and what you can do about it. I’ll be sharing some of the strategies we teach kids: the same ones that got me through NYU Law School and a career as a litigator and now, a social entrepreneur revolutionizing education.

If you’re not affected by EDS, please consider making a donation to support our work to help that 30% of EDS kids beat the odds—in the process making a discovery that can help millions more kids with learning and social-emotional challenges that other schools can only accommodate.

With gratitude,

Cheryl